StructureHub

That’s right.  Yesterday, winners of the 2009 edition of Architecture for Humanity’s Open Architecture Challenge were plucked from over 1000 entries.  Whereas 2007’s theme was “digital inclusion” (designing cheap/sustainable means of increasing 3rd-world access to online educational and economic opportunities), 2009 focused on “classroom design” (designing “replicable and adaptable” individual classrooms that improve students’ learning environment).

The twist was that each entry must choose from 1 of 4 types of classroom settings.  Participants’ choices included (1) partnering with a school of their choice and tailoring their entry to that school’s particular needs; (2) crafting ways to upgrade/renovate/expand existing schools located in poor, urban areas of India; (3) developing better modular versions of “relocatable” classrooms, which many school districts use as temporary class space; or (4) developing simple, cost-efficient, rural classrooms for Uganda’s rural poor.

Section Eight [design] chose to partner with Teton Valley Community School in Victor, Idaho, which was apparently a fruitful selection, since it won the overall competition.  TVCS is a small school with a predictably charter school-like approaching to education.  Although it’s growing, the fact that it is independent means its budget is quite limited.

Section Eight [design] (aside: are they named after the affordable housing program?) cleverly accounted for this financial situation in what I think will actually end up being a better learning environment than the prototypical, big-budget school building.  Instead of designing one large building with many rooms, hallways and uses, they developed classroom-sized building units that can be constructed (off- or on-site) as needed and attached to the school in a series of modular units.

Over time, the school would grow into a campus-like network of classrooms loosely linked together in a network of spaces that integrates the natural environment and accommodates the school’s changing needs and finances.

As much as I like Section Eight [design]’s entry, my favorite design in the competition has to be the semi-finalist entry from Perkins + Will.  The firm partnered with DeKalb County to design an alternative to the traditionally awful “temporary” classroom.

Christened the “PeaPoD,” each classroom can be trucked to each site (e.g., school parking lot) by 2 semi-trucks.  After being bolted together, the finished product is a light-filled, warm-hued classroom that is quite likely more appealing than most permanent school buildings.  What truly sets the design apart is its integration of cost-saving materials and green building techniques with passive design elements such as big eaves and operable windows, all of which combine to lower utility costs and liven up the learning experience.

Peruse other finalists here.

Image courtesy of nathansnostalgia